Hello everyone.
I've been offered a gun, and I don't know anything about it...I was hoping I can give you all some info and maybe you could tell me about it.
The gun is marked on the barrel "Colt D.A. 38" (I am guessing this is .38 Long Colt, as opposed to .38 Special. Am I correct?)
The gun does not appear to me to have any markings that look long enough to be a serial number, and I looked for about 20 minutes. However, it does say some things. The cylinder latch and inside the frame are stamped with "227". At the bottom of the frame, on the butt, "24" is stamped, with "028" stamped beneath it.
The cylinder in this pistol rotates freely counterclockwise when at rest...when I put the pistol into full lockup (hammer cocked, dropped, trigger still back), the gun was locked up tighter than a drum front to back, pretty tight side-to-side, and the cylinder gap was very good (by eye.) However, I seem to recall seeing another similar gun that had the same issue with the rotating cylinder, so I am wondering if they are designed to "roll" when the trigger is not being used to cycle the gun.
The top of the barrel is stamped with two patent dates, one says 8/5/84, and the other indicates 11/6/1888.
There is one almost exactly like it on auctionarms.... http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8067165
I did not take pictures as I don't own a camera. This gun has slightly different grips than the one I am looking at... mine say "COLT" in big letters that take up that whole circle, and there is no prancing pony.
The fellow is asking $175. The bore looks pretty good, and the crown looks pretty good...the cylinder latch has a little wear where the cylinder rotates past it.
Is this a good price? Can I resell this easily for more money? (I don't know anything about antique guns, but I want to see an old Colt go to a good home...it's just laying there dying.) Is it safe to shoot? Is 38 Long Colt interchangeable with anything else?
Thanks for all the <anticipated> help!
Liam
PS: Here's another auction. Mine looks JUST LIKE this one, but no nickel. Blued.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=75417698
I've been offered a gun, and I don't know anything about it...I was hoping I can give you all some info and maybe you could tell me about it.
The gun is marked on the barrel "Colt D.A. 38" (I am guessing this is .38 Long Colt, as opposed to .38 Special. Am I correct?)
The gun does not appear to me to have any markings that look long enough to be a serial number, and I looked for about 20 minutes. However, it does say some things. The cylinder latch and inside the frame are stamped with "227". At the bottom of the frame, on the butt, "24" is stamped, with "028" stamped beneath it.
The cylinder in this pistol rotates freely counterclockwise when at rest...when I put the pistol into full lockup (hammer cocked, dropped, trigger still back), the gun was locked up tighter than a drum front to back, pretty tight side-to-side, and the cylinder gap was very good (by eye.) However, I seem to recall seeing another similar gun that had the same issue with the rotating cylinder, so I am wondering if they are designed to "roll" when the trigger is not being used to cycle the gun.
The top of the barrel is stamped with two patent dates, one says 8/5/84, and the other indicates 11/6/1888.
There is one almost exactly like it on auctionarms.... http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8067165
I did not take pictures as I don't own a camera. This gun has slightly different grips than the one I am looking at... mine say "COLT" in big letters that take up that whole circle, and there is no prancing pony.
The fellow is asking $175. The bore looks pretty good, and the crown looks pretty good...the cylinder latch has a little wear where the cylinder rotates past it.
Is this a good price? Can I resell this easily for more money? (I don't know anything about antique guns, but I want to see an old Colt go to a good home...it's just laying there dying.) Is it safe to shoot? Is 38 Long Colt interchangeable with anything else?
Thanks for all the <anticipated> help!
Liam
PS: Here's another auction. Mine looks JUST LIKE this one, but no nickel. Blued.
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=75417698
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